Pape

Sow

We hear he’s wonderful in the locker room, does a lot of the intangibles that don’t make the box score and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Actually, we just made that stuff up, but based on the fact he only averaged 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 27 games with Toronto last year, we’re probably not too far off. Every team has to have one of those guys, right?

He’s pain free once again, but doctors haven’t given him any indication of when he’ll be able to return. “I just take my time, do what the doctor says,” he said. “If it was just me, I know myself, I don’t like to sit down, I don’t like to just lay there, but now I can’t make the decision. I have to leave everything in the doctor’s hands.”

He was hospitalized overnight for precautionary reasons, but had full use of his limbs. “He said he neck was hurting, we didn’t want to move him,” said coach Sam Mitchell. “We’d rather be safe.” Sow, a 6-9 forward-center, is going into the last year of his guaranteed contract. There’s no word on how long he’ll be sidelined, but he is expected to play for Senegal in the world championships next month and play a reserve role behind Rasho Nesterovic for the Raptors this season.

He’s still in the hospital after suffering an injury in practice, but does have use of all his limbs. The 24-year-old Sow is entering the final year of his guaranteed contract and is to be paid slightly more than $700,000 this season. Not only was he entering a year in which he hoped to prolong his NBA career, he was going to play for his native Senegal in next month’s world championship.

The operation was performed by orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Jaswinder Grover and neurosurgeon Dr. Albert Capanna at Valley Hospital on Thursday evening. No timetable has been set for his return, but he could miss the entire season.

The injured center, who crashed to the court during a Tuesday summer league practice and was taken out of the gym on a stretcher, will have to wear a cervical collar. Sow remained in a Las Vegas hospital yesterday for more tests and observation, but Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said he was doing well.

Sow is averaging 2.2 points in six games.

Sow made his NBA debut tonight by committing two fouls in three minutes. He won’t get much playing time.

Sow, activated 13 days ago, played in four games, averaging 1.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.3 minutes.